Utilities will grow 40% more expensive

Authorities are preparing another blow at the pockets of Belarusians.

The price of housing and communal services is scheduled to be raised in 2014 in Belarus. According to BelaPAN, this is provided by the draft official prognosis of socio-economic development for next year.

By the estimations of economic authorities, the payments for a typical (one-bedroom) apartment will rise by 124.3 thousand roubles or by $12.7 and will amount to 450.9 thousand roubles. Thus, nominally the price for housing and communal services is scheduled to be raised by 38%.

It is expected that as a result of tariff’s increase the population will be covering 34.7% of the price for housing and communal services next year.

It was previously reported that the deputy Minister of Economy Aliaksandr Jarashenka, when speaking at a joint session of the parliament’s commissions on 14 November in Minsk, claimed that the population was paying little for housing and communal services.

“The population pays unjustifiably little for the housing and communal services that the state provides. Currently this number (the part, covered by the population) accounts for about 24%”, - Jarashenka said.

At the same time he added that this level was scheduled to be increased up to approximately 35% in 2014.

“If we are speaking of the part covered by the population next year, then, considering the growth of the population’s active incomes, we are planning to raise the share up to 35%”, - the deputy Minister of Economy said.

The growth of active incomes (accounted for inflation) is scheduled for 2014 at the level of 4.6%

We would remind that the approved Program for Socio-Economic Development for 2011-2015 provides for the population to start covering no less than 60% of the costs of housing and communal services in 2015.

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